ENSURE DOGS’ HEALTH & WELL-BEING BEST PRACTICES FOR KENNELS TO
Additionally, kennels should be an appropriate size and well-maintained, the ACT says. Regular human observation of dogs and interactions are essential. “At a minimum, every dog needs to be able to stand and move around, to get away from its waste and to have food and water available,” Dr. Root says. “The housing has to be easy to clean, to disinfect and to dry. “An important consideration is not to use unpainted or unfinished wood in kennels,” she advises. “Bare wood is neither easy to disinfect nor easy to dry. You should never put a dog back into a wet kennel because it increases the risk of passing along infections and parasites.” As for exercise, the reproductive expert says, “All dogs need regular exercise and regular interactions with humans. It has been shown that dogs that receive these interactions with humans are less likely to show nuisance behaviors. “Caretakers should stop to pet dogs, talk to dogs, check dogs over, and sit and talk with dogs. These sorts of interactions are associated with better behaviors and better health. The more time we spend interacting with dogs, the better it is for dogs.” NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS & WATCHOUTS Breeding animals should have access to an appropriate complete and balanced dog food for their life stage and be fed to maintain proper body condition, says the ACT. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. “The Purina Body Condition System (https://www.purina institute.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/body-condition- system-dog.pdf) is an important tool to determine how
Breeders strive to produce nice-sized litters of healthy puppies. Adhering to best practices that are recognized as promoting the welfare of breeding dogs will help you achieve your goals and ensure dogs’ health and well-being. “There are many facets involved in providing care for breeding animals,” says Peggy Root Kustritz, DVM, PhD, DACT, a veterinary reproductive specialist and author of “The Dog Breeder’s Guide to Successful Breeding and Health Management.” “The housing and the diet you provide breeding dogs, as well as how you manage brood females and stud dogs, are important for best outcomes,” she says. Here, Dr. Root provides insights based on recommen- dations by the American College of Theriogenology (ACT), the veterinary specialty organization that certifies veteri- narians as specialists in animal reproduction. She blends the information with her 40 years’ experience working with breeders as professor of small-animal reproduction at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. THE BEST KENNEL ENVIRONMENT Breeding animals should be housed in an environment free of mental distress and one that promotes normal behaviors related to an individual dog’s temperament, according to the ACT. Male and female dogs should be housed in appropriate social units except when females are in estrus. The presence of females in heat may cause aggression between males that are housed with them or may cause aggression between the female in heat and other females in the unit.
An optimal kennel environment should be clean and well-maintained. Dogs should receive regular social interactions with humans and regular exercise.
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 33
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